René Urtreger (Paris, 1934) has always been an extraordinarily gifted pianist, an assured player who delivers his unhurried flow of ideas with swing and clean improvisations. By the age of eighteen he already stood out as a jazzman. The way he understood the conventions of bop piano even at a young age, playing the style as if he were born into it, soon made him one of the essential figures in the development of modern French jazz.
This CD compilation contains all of his early trio recordings, starting with two tracks performed during a live concert at the Apollo Théâtre in May 1954. He was ably backed by bassist Benoît Quersin and drummer Jean-Louis Viale, who became his first regular rhythm section. With them, he recorded his debut album for Barclay a year later, an effort dedicated to the music of his main influence, master bebop pianist Bud Powell. By then René was in his twenties, and although he had not fully matured yet as an artist, his musical character was more than enough to turn emotions. He had impressed pianist John Lewis of MJQ fame, with his work for Miles Davis and Lester Young in 1956. So when René put together a new trio with Paul Rovère on bass and Al Levitt on drums, Lewis decided to cut four tracks for an Atlantic album he produced called Jazz Piano International, intended for the American market.
This, in turn, piqued the interest of the Versailles label, which asked René to record a new trio album, which he led with hard swinging imagination. There is a free-wheeling, coasting sort of feeling to his playing that is, still today, truly exhilarating. He was described by André Hodeir as "one of the European musicians who swings the best."
Listening to these recordings, there's little doubt why René Urtreger was the favorite accompanist of most of the American stars who visited Paris in the prolific jazz scene of the Fifties and early Sixties. A true living legend.
Original sources:
Tracks #1 & 2, from the 12" LP "Jazz Boom" (Philips P.77.101 L)
Tracks #3-10, from the 10" LP "René Urtreger joue Bud Powell" (Barclay 84.003)
Tracks #11-14, from the 12" LP "Jazz Piano International" (Atlantic 1287)
Tracks #15-25, from the 12" LP "René Urtreger Trio" (Versailles STDX 8008)
Personnel:
Tracks #1-10: René Urtreger, piano; Benoît Quersin, bass; Jean-Louis Viale, drums. Recorded live at l'Apollo Théâtre, Paris, May, 16, 1954 [1-2] Recorded at Pathé-Magellan Studio, Paris, February 24, 1955 [3-10]
Tracks #11-25: René Urtreger, piano; Paul Rovère, bass; Al Levitt, drums Recorded in Paris, April 20 [11-14], and September [15-25], 1957
Original recordings produced by André Francis & Marcel Romano (#1 & 2), Eddie & Nicole Barclay (#3-10), John Lewis (#11-14), Sacha Distel & Bruno Coquatrix (#15-25)
Booklet liner notes: Jordi Pujol
Produced for CD release by Jordi Pujol
Special thanks to René Urtreger
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